Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I got slightly confused. It is not the first time it happened and it will not be the last. We propose to insert the words "The post of Director for Mental Health shall be a publicly advertised position, subject to strict criteria." The Mental Health Reform Group is concerned that the Bill limits the recruitment of a new director to the HSE to those who already hold the position of national director, a point on which we touched earlier. It is vital that we get the person with the appropriate expertise for the job. That is not to say that somebody within the current set-up might not have that expertise and sail through a recruitment process, but in the public interest and having regard to the credibility of what the Minister is trying to do, which we are all behind, we believe the position must be publicly advertised, subject to strict criteria. I apologise for discussing the other amendment earlier.